Statement of Solidarity with Journalists in Gagauzia. We Condemn the Inappropriate Conduct of Mihail Vlah, Advisor to the Bashkan of Gagauzia, and Boris Novak, Former Member of the People’s Assembly

We, the undersigned non-governmental media organizations, express our full solidarity with journalists in Gagauzia who continue to face pressure and intimidation from both current and former representatives of the local administration. We strongly condemn the unacceptable behavior of Mihail Vlah, advisor to Bashkan Evghenia Guțul, and Boris Novak, former deputy of the People’s Assembly of Gagauzia, towards the press. We call on them to uphold basic standards of civility in their interactions with journalists and to issue a public apology to the reporters and media institutions they have targeted.

On February 15, during the Congress of Deputies and Representative Bodies of Gagauzia, two deeply concerning incidents occurred, highlighting a persistent pattern of hostility toward independent journalism in the region.

At the event, former deputy Boris Novak publicly attacked reporters from Nokta.md and Laf.md, inciting the audience to express open contempt for journalists. His inflammatory rhetoric encouraged public hostility toward the press, further fueling an already difficult environment for independent media in Gagauzia. Shockingly, his remarks were met with applause and visible approval from Dmitri Constantinov, President of the People’s Assembly, and Bashkan Evghenia Guțul, both of whom were on stage alongside him.

In a separate incident on the same day, journalist Elena Celak was subjected to intimidation by Mihail Vlah, the Bashkan’s media advisor. According to Celak, Vlah made a deeply troubling remark before a recorded interaction, telling her, “Elena, soon you will be gone” (“Елена, скоро вас не будет!”). Such statements are unacceptable and contribute to a climate of fear and hostility toward journalists.

We strongly condemn the actions of both Boris Novak and Mihail Vlah, which reflect a broader pattern of attempts to silence independent media in Gagauzia. Notably, Mihail Vlah has previously been called out for similar behavior in 2023 and 2024.

We remind all representatives of the local administration in the Autonomous Territorial Unit (UTA) of Gagauzia, and in particular Mihail Vlah and Boris Novak, that under Moldova’s Law on Freedom of Expression, the state guarantees press freedom. Any attempt to obstruct journalistic activity or intimidate reporters for their work is a violation of these rights and carries legal consequences.

We call on Mihail Vlah and Boris Novak to:

• Refrain from any further acts of hostility, intimidation, or incitement against journalists;
• Respect the fundamental role of the press in a democratic society;
• Issue a public apology to the journalists and media organizations affected by their inappropriate conduct.

Additionally, we urge Moldovan law enforcement authorities to take immediate action in accordance with their legal obligations and initiate proceedings to hold accountable those responsible for inciting hostility toward the media.

Signatory organizations:

• Independent Journalism Center
• Association of Environmental and Ecological Tourism Journalists
• Media Guard Association
• Association of Electronic Press
• Association of Independent Press
• Access-Info Center
• Press Freedom Committee
• RISE Moldova